Solicitor Apprenticeship 2026

We are Dentons. The world’s largest law firm. With more than 12,500 people in 80+ countries around the world, we have unique breadth, depth and diversity. Alongside our award-winning global work, we are committed to a culture of innovation, giving back and inclusion.

Dentons is designed to be different. The landscape we work in is changing at an accelerating pace. We embrace this change and are looking for trainees and apprentices to join us in redefining what is possible in shaping the future of law.

Your career at Dentons can shape up to be something extraordinary. It’s a place for those who are ready to be bold. To question. To break tradition. To lead the future. This could be the start of something big.

Main areas of work

Trainees and apprentices are able to choose from a wealth of seats to work with experts across our practice areas: Banking and Finance, Competition, Corporate, Dispute Resolution, Projects, PRM (People, Reward and Mobility), Real Estate, Tax and TMT (Technology, Media and Telecommunications).

Work is also about more than just work here. It's about the environment too, and the feeling you get from your team, office and beyond. Our teams are focused on inclusion, giving back, and on looking forward with innovation.

Please note not every department is available in all of our offices, but all our teams work closely together.

Solicitor Apprenticeship 2026

Our Solicitor Apprenticeship allows you to work towards your Law degree while gaining practical experience on the job—without accumulating student debt or taking out large loans. It is an excellent opportunity to learn, earn and build your career.

This opportunity is intended for school leavers who have not yet started an undergraduate degree. The six-year programme aimed at school leavers combines eight seats of work-based learning and part-time study with BPP University.

While on our apprenticeship you’ll work four days a week in the office. Throughout the six years you will work in eight different practice areas (departments), so you can develop a wide range of skills and decide what you would like to specialise in.

During the apprenticeship you will also spend one day a week studying. You’ll take part in workshops and seminars and complete various assessments across the six years, all working towards completing your LLB Law degree. You will also study for and pass your legal qualification exams, ‘the SQE’ (Solicitors Qualifying Examination). This will take place during the last two years of your Solicitor Apprenticeship.

Dentons is now in the 9th year of running our Solicitor Apprenticeship programme. We were pioneers as one of the first firms to introduce a programme, and to see our first Solicitor Apprentices qualify through the route in 2023.

We are proud of our leading position and have received legal sector recognition for our Solicitor Apprenticeship programme by being shortlisted for multiple awards in 2023/2024 including the Legal 500 ESG Awards, Women Influence & Power in Law Awards, ISE Awards, People in Law awards, and were awarded Excellence in Human Resource Innovation for the Legal Innovation Awards 2024.

Key Facts

• 6 years

• 1 day per week study with BPP university

• No university fees

• 4 days per week work

• LLB Law Degree

• Qualification as an England & Wales solicitor

• Designed for school leavers who have yet to commence an undergraduate degree.

Locations: London and Milton Keynes (September 2026 start)

We also give a starting work bonus of £1,500.

The deadline to apply is 21 December 2025.

Eligible candidates will need to meet the following criteria:

• A minimum of seven GCSEs grade B/grade 6 or above (including Maths and English)

• You will need to have achieved or be predicted a minimum of ABB at A-Level or equivalent.

Diversity, inclusion and wellbeing

At Dentons, inclusion, diversity, and wellbeing are not only core values, but they are also fundamental to our overall strategy. We are committed to building a more inclusive and diverse law firm because we recognise that this approach delivers better outcomes for our clients, our communities, and for Dentons as a whole.

Our aim is to create an environment where everyone can thrive. We work hard to nurture a sense of inclusion and wellbeing that is empowering to the individual, to the teams and to the Firm.

Our strategy is brought to life through a range of initiatives, such as improving access to opportunities, offering mentoring programmes, providing support resources, and hosting events and discussions centred on wellbeing and inclusion.

Our Inclusion Networks also play a huge part in fostering a sense of belonging and support for everyone at the firm. These groups include Accessibility (Disability), BPN (Black Professionals), Fusion (Asian Professionals), GLOW (LGBTQ+), Inspire (Gender Equality), and our Parents and Carers network.

Innovation

Here at Dentons, innovation isn’t something that sits in isolation - we believe it comes from everywhere and from everyone, and it is critical to our position as the world’s largest global law firm.

We do this by challenging ourselves to identify and implement innovation across all areas of service delivery to our clients.

Throughout your programme you will be encouraged to enrich your innovation skills and knowledge. See here for further information on how we help our clients innovate in different ways.